#5 Problems Arising from the the Compromise of 1850; 1850 - 1856 - AICE US History 1.2 Part 1

Summary

In this video, Mr. Jeffon explores the widening sectional divisions between 1850 and 1856 in the United States, focusing on the Compromise of 1850 and its unintended consequences. The compromise, aiming to ease tensions between free and slave states, included the controversial Fugitive Slave Act of 1850. This act, which forced citizens in free states to assist in capturing runaway slaves, sparked outrage and resistance in the North, leading to events like the Boston slave riot and the Jerry rescue. The video highlights key figures in the abolitionist movement, such as Harriet Tubman and William Lloyd Garrison, and how their actions and the Fugitive Slave Act deepened the divide, ultimately setting the stage for the Civil War.

Takeaways

• 📅 The period between 1850 and 1856 saw a significant widening of sectional divisions in the United States, which this video series aims to explore.
• 🔄 The Compromise of 1850 was designed to ease tensions between free and slave states by admitting California as a free state, banning the slave trade in Washington D.C., and allowing Utah and New Mexico to decide on slavery.
• 🚫 The Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 was a highly controversial part of the compromise, requiring citizens in free states to assist in capturing runaway slaves and stripping accused fugitives of basic legal rights.
• 📉 The Act led to outrage in the North, with many citizens opposing the enforcement of a system they didn't believe in and questioning federal power over state laws.
• 🛤️ The Underground Railroad became a critical symbol of resistance, with figures like Harriet Tubman guiding numerous slaves to freedom, embodying the spirit of defiance against the Fugitive Slave Act.
• 🤝 The Fugitive Slave Act resulted in direct confrontations, such as the Christiana Riot and the Jerry Rescue, showcasing the lengths people were willing to go to resist the law.
• 🏛️ The Boston slave riot in 1854, following the capture of Anthony Burns, became a national issue, highlighting the federal government's commitment to enforcing the Act despite public outcry.
• 🔥 Abolitionists like William Lloyd Garrison and Sojourner Truth played pivotal roles in rallying public opinion against the Fugitive Slave Act, further deepening the divide between the North and South.
• 💡 The resistance to the Fugitive Slave Act and the increasing divide between free and slave states set the stage for the Civil War, illustrating the power of individuals to make a difference even in the face of adversity.
• 🌐 The story of the Compromise of 1850 and the Fugitive Slave Act underscores the challenges of finding common ground on divisive issues and the inevitable confrontations that can arise from such divisions.

Q & A

What was the main issue that the United States faced in the early 1850s regarding the balance between free and slave states?

The United States faced the issue of whether new states being added to the union would be free or slave states, which threatened the balance that had been maintained by the Missouri Compromise of 1820.

What was the purpose of the Compromise of 1850?

The Compromise of 1850 was created to solve the problem of whether new states would be free or slave states, and it was a series of five laws meant to ease tensions between the North and the South.

How did the Compromise of 1850 address the issue of new states being free or slave?

California was admitted as a free state, and Utah and New Mexico were allowed to decide for themselves whether they would allow slavery.

What was controversial about the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850?

The Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 was controversial because it required citizens even in free states to assist in the capture of runaway slaves, stripped accused fugitives of their basic rights, and did not allow a trial by jury or self-defense in court.

How did the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 affect public opinion in the North?

The Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 caused outrage in the North, as people were shocked that they were being forced to support a system they didn't believe in, and it pushed many to become active abolitionists.

What was the significance of the Underground Railroad in response to the Fugitive Slave Act?

The Underground Railroad became more important than ever as a secret network of safe houses and people who helped runaway slaves reach freedom in the North or Canada, symbolizing defiance against an unjust law.

Who was Harriet Tubman and what was her role in the Underground Railroad?

Harriet Tubman was a former slave who risked her life to return to the South multiple times, guiding over 70 people to freedom. She became known as the Moses of her people, embodying the spirit of resistance against the Fugitive Slave Act.

What was the Christiana Resistance and how did it demonstrate resistance to the Fugitive Slave Act?

The Christiana Resistance was a violent clash in 1851 where a group of African-Americans led by William Parker refused to give up runaway slaves to a Maryland slave owner named Edward Gorsuch, demonstrating the lengths people were willing to go to resist the Fugitive Slave Act.

How did the Jerry rescue in Rochester, New York, impact the public's view on the Fugitive Slave Act?

The Jerry rescue involved hundreds of abolitionists gathering to demand the release of a man arrested under the Fugitive Slave Act, leading to his escape to Canada. The event highlighted the growing divide between the North and the South and further emboldened abolitionists.

What was the impact of the Boston slave riot on the nation's view of the Fugitive Slave Act?

The Boston slave riot, where Anthony Burns was arrested under the Fugitive Slave Act and eventually sent back to his owner despite massive protests, shocked the nation and highlighted the lengths to which the federal government would go to enforce the law.

How did the actions of abolitionists like William Lloyd Garrison and Sojourner Truth contribute to the resistance against the Fugitive Slave Act?

Abolitionists like William Lloyd Garrison and Sojourner Truth played a crucial role in rallying public opinion against the Fugitive Slave Act. Garrison's fiery speeches and actions, such as burning the Constitution, and Truth's powerful calls for justice, inspired many to join the Abolitionist cause and deepened the divide between North and South.